Family & Pets

Top Things To Do Labor Day Weekend In Las Vegas

Labor Day weekend is meant to be a relaxing time, away from the drudgery of work to spend quality time with friends and/or family. There are various Labor Day traditions in Las Vegas, with the cooler weather finally promising to make its appearance and with the fact that you are finally able to do outdoor activities during the daytime. Whether it’s camping or boating, a visit to a park, a barbecue, mini golf or horseback riding, everything is available for your leisure time fun when you are in the Valley.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area
601 Nevada Highway
Boulder City, NV 89005
(702) 293-8906www.nps.govWhether you want to go boating, camping, rent a houseboat or just spend a day away from the heat of the city, Lake Mead is truly an oasis in the desert. As part of the recreation area, Lake Mohave is the perfect place to rent a houseboat to just slowly cruise around the lake, enjoying the wind in your face and the sun at your back. It’s big enough to feel as though you actually go somewhere, but quiet enough so you can have some privacy. Camping is reasonable and everything from RVs to tents have their own spaces and amenities, or you can camp in the backcountry, away from the crowd. Bobbling on the water in a rented boat, casting and trawling for fish, is one of the most enjoyable aspects when a lake is located so close to a major city.

Sunset Park
2601 E. Sunset Road
Las Vegas, NV 89120
(702) 455-8200www.clarkcountynv.govThe largest park in Las Vegas has everything you need for a leisurely time during a long weekend: fishing, tennis, volleyball courts, baseball diamonds, green spaces, children’s play areas, a dog park and hiking trails. The pond is the place to be to mingle with the ducks, geese and swans, making the fact that you live in a desert almost unbelievable. It’s fascinating to explore the terrain, seeing some true desert vegetation and sand dunes along the way. The green areas with their old gnarled trees welcome and shade you during a hot day, and the barbecue pits are well situated with lots of room, shelter and picnic tables available.

Bonnie Springs Ranch
16395 Bonnie Springs Road
Las Vegas, NV 89124
(702) 875-4191www.bonniesprings.comBonnie Springs is a step back into Old Vegas, where the Wild West teemed with cowpokes and wranglers and when the chuck wagon accompanied every trail-blazing cattle drive across country. There is everything from a petting zoo and pony rides for the kiddies, a little train that takes you for a tour and a riding stable where you can arrange to go horseback riding around the grounds. But the top draw is the Old Nevada Western Town, where you can stay overnight, tour the area and revisit the Old West in its glory days. It is rumored that on Friday and Saturday nights, some ‘rasslers (bad guys) may just arrive to have a “shoot-em up” in front of the old saloon. Kids love it, adults are fascinated by it and it’s the perfect place to spend a day or night during the long weekend.

King Putt Indoor Mini Golf
27 S. Stephanie St
Henderson, NV 89012
(702) 541-6807www.kingputtlv.comKing Putt’s new location is bigger and better than ever, offering your choice of mini golf, laser tag or even both. There are party and group packages available as well, suitable for families, friends or corporate events. The black light Egyptian-themed mini golf is an experience in itself, with 18 holes and a fun atmosphere. There are all of the bells and whistles and even some special effects that will provide extra entertainment for the whole family. You can grab a snack at the snack bar and make an afternoon or evening of it, and inject some enjoyable exercise into what otherwise may be a quiet, restful weekend.

Wildhorse Golf Club
2100 W. Warm Springs Road
Henderson, NV 89014
(702) 434-9000www.golfwildhorse.comWildhorse is a beautifully appointed golf course in a convenient setting, close to Henderson and Las Vegas, and just off the beaten path. You can either play 18 holes and make a day of it, or relax afterward and enjoy breakfast or lunch in the clubhouse at the Terrace on the Greens restaurant. There is a dress code. If you prefer to make a weekend of it, “Stay and Play” packages are available, and there are Players Cards for locals, too.

Sharon Damon is a preschool specialist, avid reader, passionate writer and creative baker/ cook. She has been a cooking instructor at a local Rec Center in Henderson, NV since 2011, and has written for Examiner and other publications since 2010. She knows her way around the keyboard and the kitchen! Sharon moved from a small city in Canada to Las Vegas 6 years ago, to marry the love of her life, and has since been swept up in the whirlwind known as Sin City. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.